Wednesday, August 15, 2007

WOUNDED, HEALING

Molly took this picture of Abby and me at our "final summer family gathering" last Friday night. When I saw it, I thought of how temporary these internal breaks are and how relatively short a time this torso brace will support me. All summer long! In the course of things, this bit of suffering is but a moment. "Our light and momentary afflictions..." But there are other kinds of wounds and breaks that take much longer to recognize, comprehend, understand and heal. That set me to a bit of reflecting...

Most of our wounds are not so obviousas a gash that opens the skinor a break that requires a castor a disfiguring scar thatlingers a lifetime.

Most of our wounds bypass the surfaceand pierce the heartand impact our psyche,strike at our soul.

Outwardly imperceptible injuriesdistort self-image,diminish a sense of the future,break or bend the will,starve imagination,distort reality,enslave to comparisons,mis-authorize control,create pain.

Does outward appearancematter so much morewhen inward woundsfester and distort?If only we can look wellwe may become well?If only our surroundings--our labor and achievements,our associations--can commend us,we will be well?

We look on the outward appearance,but God sees thru the heart,and invites us to this view, too.And whatever we dare to see,to see as it is,to name as we can,to ask to be healed,is bathed in divine love.

We heal from the inside out,miraculously and naturally,instantly and ever so slowly;tuning into the corpus of graceas best we can,as far as we dare,as much as we care.

Healing continues for a lifetime.Inner wounds closeone layer after another.Still, we are ever being woundedand ever mending,ever breaking, ever healing.

So, let every sub-surface injurybe lifted to the Wounded Healerin trust that not a hurtgoes unseen, unheard, unfelt,that no prayer for healinggoes unanswered.

Twitter @indybikehiker

Read my Novel - 'What Saved Grace?'

My novel published in March 2013 as an ebook. It's a story about the beauty and complexity of compassion. Click on the book cover to go to my book page on Smashwords--it can be downloaded in any ebook format (including Kindle apps). It's available for Nook at Barnes & Noble online, as an iBook from the iTunes Store, and for Kindle at Amazon.com. Not available in print.